Resolution?

                Laying in bed he groaned in pain. Whatever was in his head was preventing him from anything. Hearing the Elements. Getting something out to Lycannon. Shadoren lay there in utter misery.  The last few weeks had not been kind to the man, his skin looked paper thin and the wound in his shoulder looked infected, and his eyes looked sad beyond time. With nothing left to do all he had left were his memories, and relive those memories he did...

Karabor One-Hundred and fifty years ago.

                Shad stood at the steps of the beautiful Temple happy to be home again after visiting Lycannon.  As he made his way up the steps and to his home he heard the laughing of children.

                "Daddy, daddy!" a small draenei girl with pigtails and hair as black as night ran up to Shad and jumped into his outstretched arms.

                "Elsila, how is my baby girl?" he smiled fondly as he kissed her forehead.

                "Good! But Jhaedon won't let me go with him to watch him be blessed by the Prophet!"

                A woman walked up behind the girl, looking ever the warrior and clad in shining silver armor, "It's been the only thing he's been talking about for the entire time you've been gone dearheart."

                Looking up Shad's smile beamed with pure love and affection, and he went from the girl to the woman to give her a hug and a kiss, "Of course it's been. He's never been able to focus on much aside from what he's interested."

                Smiling the woman, Merliss, returned the kiss, "And how are Lycannon and the twins?"

                Going back to the girl and picking her up so they could walk to their home, "Good. Lulu is adorable as ever, but no oen could beat my Elsi."

                Elsila wrinkled her nose and stuck it out at Shad, "When is aunt Lyc going to come visit us again daddy?"

                "I don't know baby."

                "Was the trip eventful dearheart?"

                Shad shrugged, "No more than usual. Ran into an orc hunting party somewhere outside Tuurem, and they were respectful enough to let me pass without any issues. Other than that just a lot of walking."

                Smirking Merliss gently nudged Shad's shoulder, "The Light watched over you I'm sure. I know I prayed every night for it to."

                "Father. Father we have a cure for you."

                Broken out of his memories, he heard people. Hurrying down there stairs were Therras, Phasha and Terefi with some vial of something that looked as though a demon had produced it.

                "A cure?" The thought was for some reason foreign to him.

                "Yes Shad, a cure, Stadht concocted it from Khoura's notes."

                Before anything else could be said there was a flash as Lightning shot out of Shadoren's outstretched hand towards where Terefi was standing less than a second ago, only her quick reflexes saving her from the blast.

                "Ha, like I'd let you cure this old fool." the voice coming out of Shadoren's body was cold and dripped with cruelty, and at once Therras had his bow trained on Shad with Terefi easily shifting into a cat and Phasha just standing there, eyes narrowed in anger.

                "I will not let you keep my father." and with that, Shadow energy flowed from her fingers as her eyes were covered in it and the small probe she had put in him to keep an eye on him was instantly connected to her, giving her control of his body, and access to his mind.

                Screaming Shadoren's body went limp as Phasha made him walk over to Terefi, who had shifted back, and take the vial, drinking it with no complaints or resistance, at least right then. As soon as the liquid had been swallowed, Phasha's connection broke and the internal battle began. The concoction working its way through his system getting rid of the toxin implanted.

                Watching intently Terefi and Therras never took their weapons off him, while Phasha just sat there stunned. His memories were left out, and she had seen them all. His friendship with Lycannon, his family, everything.

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                After the toxin was clear, Shadoren lay in bed exhausted, barely conscious.

                "Are you sure you have to go? I was just getting used to my little brother again."

                Chuckling Therras rolled his eyes, "Yeah, it's not cool for a guy like me to be living with his brother. Besides, I'll still be around, need to make sure you don't fuck up again." and with that, and his things packed, Therras took off up the stairs to whatever he did in his free time.

                Only Phasha remained, still quiet.

                "Phasha darling, are you alri-"

                "I saw everything Father. You entire life. I think I understand it now...I...I need to go."

                Turning on a hoof she quickly trotted up the stairs, the clop of her hooves fading as she left.

                Sighing, Shad just sat there for a moment and smiled as he heard the Elements whispering again. Perhaps...perhaps thing can get better now.

Surprise...

                Sitting in his bed, Shadoren had looked better. Large bags were under his eyes, his face seemed sunken in and sullen.  On the floor next to where he sat was his brother. His younger screw up of a draenei brother.  However Therras had found him, he didn't care.  He didn't care about much at that given time.  All he could think about was how to fix everything.

                Attacking Kaludra? Threatening McSars? Sure he'd thought about attacking the old man, but he still would have never done anything of the sort. And the probe Phasha placed on him.

                "Damn my daughter and her master of all aspects of the Light..."

                Then he knew. He knew how he could fix everything. How he could make everything go away.  Creeping slowly from his bed. he took one of Therras' hunting knives from its sheath.  Staring at the wicked sharp blade, he knew with certainty he had to do this.

                Lycannon, Phasha, Elicoor, Lulu, Harpagos, Therras...Yas...forgive me. But this is the only way.

                And with those final thoughts, he plunged the dagger towards his heart.

                Only to have his hand stop just short.

                "Wha-"

                "Did you really think I would let be that easy for you Shadoren?"

                Eyes widening, he knew that voice. "Aselleus?"

                "Not quite. Merely an echo, bound to you by the curse your dear friend helped make. Now then Shadoren, while I do not want you dead. Yet. A little pain can suffice"

                And watching in horror, Shad saw his hand take the dagger and plunge it into his shoulder. And yet with the intense pain, he could not find his voice to scream.

                Blood seeped out of the wound, the dagger still firmly planted in his shoulder.

                "Now behave. There is much to do."

                Feeling whatever had his body release its grip, Shad removed the dagger and attempted to heal the wound, only to find the Elements out of his reach.  As quietly as he could, he gathered bandages out of his brother's pack, curled up on his bed, and wept.

Dreams

                Terokkar Forrest was beautiful this time of year.  Before the corruption of the Orcs.  Before everything went to shit.

                Up ahead Shadoren saw a Naaru, but why would one be in the middle of Terokkar?

                "Hello?" his voice echoed as the world around him shifted and he was in what he knew to be Karabor now, the Black Temple.

                Welcome Shadoren. the Naaru's voice echoed in his head.

                "Where am I?"

                The being merely floated there as though expecting Shad to figure it out.

                "I mean, besides Black Temple...why am I here?"

                To understand.

                "Understand what?"

                To understand that what has happened to you is not the end. The Light has not abandoned you.

                "But I'm krokul...the Light was forced away by fel energies..."

                To those you call krokul, yes.  But you were not corrupted by fel energies.  The energy that courses through you is corrupted elemental energy, shaped into a curse that would harm you most.

                "Corrupted...elemental energy?"

                The naaru simply floats there.

                Look within yourself Farseer Shadoren Wavetender of Argus.  Even in your darkest hour, the Light shines within.

                "Wait, who are you?"

                As the naaru faded into nothing, he whispered, S'ren, and the rest of the world faded with him.

                Waking up in Auchindoun still made him jump, as though the spirits of his people were going to come to embrace him.

                "Well, well, well.  Phasha said you'd be here big brother."

Decisions

               Seeing her dressed up in her formal robes made Shadoren's eyes tear up.  Four days he'd been in Shattrath to see his first born daughter become an inducted Aldori priestess and he'd never been so proud.  And now it was time to leave with that pride and her accomplishment intact.

                Moving as quietly as he could to the nearest exit he intended to go to Auchindoun.  If he was going to die, at least he'd be with his people.

                "Father. Where do you think you're going?"

                Turning around, Shadoren found himself with Phasha's accusing glare upon him, her glowing eyes never leaving his, until he had to look away out of guilt.

                "I'm going away for a while dear heart.  There's no need for me here.  Krokrul aren't needed and I'd just get in the way."

                Furiously she walked quickly to him and forced him to look into her eyes, "Now listen to me old man.  I'm not losing you for a second time.  Whatever Aselleus did to you we'll find a way to heal you."

                "With what?" Shadoren exploded, "Neither I nor Terefi can heal the would on my leg.  The Light bends away from the would when it's used, and as for being Krokrul, there's nothing that can reverse that.  Aselleus did exactly what he knew would do the most damage, cripple me and turn me into what our people fear and despise.  So forgive me Phasha if I don't want to stay in Shattrath, where I still feel alienated because I wasn't here to defend it, where at least if I had been infused with the mists then I wouldn't feel like this is my punishment for surviving Karabor when everyone else I knew and loved died."

                And with that, and Phasha's stunned expression, Shad set off for the bridge leading into Terokkar Forrest and towards the Draenei city of the dead.

                "Fath-" before she could even finish the word, with a flick of his wrist backwards a stone wall erupted from the ground stopping her progress.  By the time she went around it, he was nowhere to be seen.

                "Oh mother...what do I do?"

Dreams

                The draenei man lay there, looking as though he was asleep, shifting as though he were dreaming. Or remembering.

Argus, 25000 years ago.               

                The draenei boy ran across the field playing with the girl that was there with him.  It was a simple game of tag, but everything in the world was perfect for them.  Just two friends having fun.

                Finally tiring, both of them collapsed, laying with their heads next to each other.

                "Xana, we'll always be friends, right?"

                "Well duh Shad, we'll be friends..."

Argus, before leaving

                "Xana, I don't understand. It doesn't seem like something Elicoor would do."

                A tall draenei man sat across from a very distraught woman trying to rationalize things.

                "Shad. He killed her...he...my Zorana..."

                "Xana, are you absolutely sure?"

                "Yes fel damnit! I'm sure."

                Shadoren sighed as he looked out the window to see the city of Mac'aree, "It's almost time. Come on."

                Xana'ri nods as she follows Shadoren out the door to where the followers of Velen were to meet, the highest mountain on the longest day of the year. There they waited until the Naaru saved them, barely, from becoming man'ari. The only comfort Shadoren had was that he had seen Elicoor there amongst those that fled. Xana couldn't have been right...

Random planet 10,000 years ago.

                The draenei man paced outside the door, waiting for possibly the most important news of his life.

                "Shad.  Shad.  SHAD!" a woman was sitting, very calmly, at a chair just outside the door, "It's okay.  Merliss will be fine, as will the child."

                "How can you be sure! Light bless. She's been in there for hours Lycannon! Hours!"

                The woman chuckled, "And? It takes time Shad. The priest has to be careful. Perha-"

                The door opened, and a woman, obviously a priestess, smiled at Shad as he rushed to the door looking very anxious.

                "She is ready."

                With one last glance at Lycannon, who just urged him to go in and meet his child, he rushed into the room where his wife and newborn were. He sat there as he watched his beautiful wife hold their child. His first child.

                "Is it a-"

                "He's a boy. Want to come meet him?"

                Nodding dumbly he walked over to where his Merliss was holding his boy. A son...

                "He's so small..."

                "Well did you expect him to come out as big as you are?"

                "What's his name?"

                Smiling at Shadoren, Merliss simply stated, "Jhaedon. After your father. I thought you'd like that."

                Eyes tearing up, Shad just smiled and nodded, reaching a finger out to gently stroke his sons cheek.

                "Jhaedon..."

Draenor, first landing.

                Walking off the ship Shadoren looked at the new landscape that was to be his home.

                "Well, it's pretty." Lycannon walked off to stand next to Shad as other draenei shuffled off the ship to look at their new home.

                Smirking and looking at Lyc, "Very.  I wonder if there are native people. There seem to be animals, " a group of Talbuks ran by, eyeing the newcomers, "Though they look strange."

                "Well. No time to waste kiddies, let's see if we can find ourselves someplace to call our own." Merliss says as she rushes past the two, her children following her...

Tuurem

                "Lycannon, you're using him."

                The woman looks at Shadoren, "And?"

                Shadoren sighs and tries to get it through her head, "You're using Aselleus, and one day he's going to realize it."

                "Please, Aselleus is too oblivious to realize anything."

After the slaughter at Karabor

                The draenei man stood there, his cleric robes covered in blue blood, but not his own.

                Gone. They were all gone.

                Merliss.

                Jhaedon.

                Elsila.

                What about Lycannon and Elicoor? Or the twins Kaludra and Harpagos...

                And with those thoughts, he screamed a blood curdling scream.  The Light had forsaken his family, and now he was forsaking the Light. No more would he be a cleric.

                As these memories were flooding through his head, a single thought entered.

                They're coming.

Attacked!

            "Phasha, I know ye wanna stay outta the way fer yer father, but isn't Outland a bit ferther than this Aselleus' can reach?"

            The young draenei woman looked at the dwarf sitting across from her at the table they were seated at on the Aldor Rise in Shattrath City.

            Shattrath.  My home...and now my self-imposed exile.

            "I understand where you're coming from Kordas, and I understand father trusts you to protect me well enough, but the less of a liability I am for both father and mother the better.  And Ishanah assured me we were both welcome and safe here."

            The dwarf sighed and took a deep swig of his ale.  This girl was far too much like Shadoren, there was no way he was winning this argument.

            A smiling draenei priestess approached them, "Ishanah asked if there was anything we could do to make you both more comfortable."

            "Nay, we're fine, thank ye."

            The priestess nods, and then asks, "Well then, Master Aselleus asks if there's any last reques-"

            Before she could finish her sentence, Kordas lept into action, swinging the Stormhammer his mother's people were so known for, straight at the priestess' face.

            "Phasha, get to the gryphon!"

            Eyes wide with shock, the girl nods, and breaks into a run, headed for Kordas' gryphon.  As she looked back, she saw more cultists coming for the dwarf.  Wanting to go back and help, but knowing it would be futile in the end, she sent a small prayer.  Kordas, Light bless you.

            Before she reached the gryphon, another cultists charged at her.  Acting on instinct alone, she called down not the Light, but the Shadow, reducing the cultist's mind to mush in moments.

            "Skine! To me!" she called to the gryphon, who by now knew the girl well enough to take orders from her as well as Kordas.  As she mounted, she dared one glance back, to see the dwarf slowly being overrun by cultists.

            "To the Dark Portal Skine," and with that the gryphon took off back to Azeroth, where she would have to find Terefi and tell her what happened, and hopefully find her father and explain what she gleamed in the cultist's mind.

Caught!

            A streak, barely a whisper, ran through the forests of Feralas.  Seemingly a spirit with one single goal in mind, and whatever got in its way would not be pleased with the outcome.

            Catching a glimpse of movement out of the corner of its eye, the spirit changed into a tall blue man clad in rough leathers, and a massive mace, imbued with fire, swinging down to crush in the skull of the cultist, then shifting quickly back into the spirit wolf to continue his trek.

            Coming up to Dire Maul, he risks pausing to See around him.

            Cultists.  It seemed like fifteen to twenty were right behind him, and the corpse of their comrade had done nothing to stop them.  Once again shifting into the spirit wolf, the man headed towards the new Feathermoon Stronghold and carefully skirted around it as to not worry the Night Elves there.

            Not far from the stronghold he came upon the ocean.  The Veiled Sea stretched out before him, the island that once held Feathermoon Stronghold off the shore a ways, now in ruins due to the Shattering.  That seemed a good enough spot to hide and take out his attackers.  Maybe even regroup.

            Asking the Water for the ability to walk as though it were solid land, the spirit wolf headed across the sea.  Before he knew what had happened he could sense them.

            Naga.  Vile serpents from the depths, and they weren't alone.  The cultists that were after him were with them.

            Must make it to the island.  At least there I can fortify myself.  Running with renewed purpose, the wolf broke away from the naga and cultists behind him.

            At last, after what seemed an eternity he had made it to the island, just in time for the naga to catch up.

            Not wasting any time, he quickly shifted back to his humanoid form, prepared to fight off the beasts.  Wielding the mace with deadly precision, naga were felled in droves.  Of course, enhanced strength, skin as hard as stone, reflexes like the wind and the end of the mace being a fireball didn't hurt either.

            After the last naga fell, the man stood there, covered in blood and exhausted, and that's when the arrow hit.  Right in the shoulder.

            "Fel!" staring at the arrow in shock, then back to where it came from, there stood a figure amongst the trees.  Trying to get a good view to send it to Lycannon, his vision started to blur.

            Lycannon.  Captured.  Poison.  were his last thoughts.